Beginners Guide to Walt Disney World Resorts

With over 30,000 hotel rooms; 3,000 Disney Vacation Club units & 799 campsites the accommodation options in Walt Disney World are numerous. Disney World Resorts provide unique theming, accommodation to suit a range of budgets & the opportunity to stay in the middle of the action. Our beginners guide to Walt Disney World Resorts has been updated for 2018.

Beginners Guide to Walt Disney World Resorts – Grand Floridian

If you are visiting Walt Disney World nothing beats being in the heart of the action by staying in a Disney World Resort. In addition guests staying at Disney owned resorts get a number of perks including:

However; there are cheaper options by staying in some of the many hotels & villas located throughout the Orlando area. Although they do cater for a range of budgets it is usually possible to do Disney cheaper by not staying in a Walt Disney Resort. However the closeness and the added extras make Disney World Resorts a popular option for many guests.

Disney Vacation Club

Disney Vacation Club Villas are timeshare locations that are rented out for vacant weeks. Villas are often good options to consider when larger family groups are going to Walt Disney World. All Disney Vacation Club properties are deluxe resorts.

Disney World Resorts in Magic Kingdom Area

Disney World Resorts in the Magic Kingdom Area give you quick access to the number 1 theme park in the world. Resorts in this area are some of the most luxurious in Walt Disney World.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The Contemporary Resort is one of two resorts on property when Walt Disney World opened in 1971. There are 655 rooms and suites in this 14-story deluxe resort. Some rooms are located in the adjacent Garden Wing.

Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort has two separate club levels The Atrium Club & The Tower Club. Club level guests get access to a special concierge lounge and complimentary food offerings served throughout the day.

Recreational amenities include water skiing, boat rentals, jogging, volleyball, parasailing, playground and two swimming pools. There are a selection of specialty shops in the resort. The Contemporary tower has a 90-foot-tall mural by Disney Legend Mary Blair celebrates the Grand Canyon and the American Southwest.

View from California Grill Balcony

Monorail, motor coaches and watercraft provide easy access to the theme parks. It is just a short walk to Magic Kingdom.

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

In 2005, Disney began an extensive renovation of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and it was completed in 2009. Bay Lake Tower was built on the site of the former North Wing.

This Disney Vacation Club resort features 295 units (2-bedroom equivalents) including studio, one- and two-bedroom villas. Its fifth floor is connected by a skyway from the main tower’s fourth floor.

Beach at Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Opened in 1988 this Victorian themed hotel is the most luxurious resort at Walt Disney World. The hotel’s main building features an impressive five-story lobby, stained glass domes and Italian marble floors.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Victorian Elegance

The Grand Floridian includes 867 rooms and suites at an average of 400 square feet. It is by far the most expensive resort at Walt Disney World.

There are two ‘club level’ lounges at the Grand Floridian. The Royal Palm Club is located in the main building & the Sugar Loaf Club is in the Sugar Loaf building. To learn more about club level read our review of the Kilimanjaro Club.

Grand Floridian Resort

Dining includes Cítricos, Victoria & Albert’s, Gasparilla Grill & Games, Grand Floridian Cafe, 1900 Park Fare and Narcoossee’s. The Victoria and Albert is considered as one of the top restaurants in the entire United States. It is a long-standing AAA Five Diamond Award-winning restaurant. Overall the Grand Floridian has some of the very best restaurants in Walt Disney World.

There is easy access to theme parks via watercraft, motor coach and monorail.

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

This Disney Vacation Club resort opened in 2013 and includes 147 villas and studios.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

The resort includes 484 traditional hotel rooms/suites in addition to 20 over-the-water bungalows and 360 deluxe studio villas as part of the Disney Vacation Club Resort. It was one of the original resorts that opened with the Magic Kingdom in 1971. The Disney Vacation Club expansion opened in 2015.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

The resort is designed with South Pacific Island theming along the beach of Seven Seas Lagoon.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Dining options include

‘Ohana

Kona Café

Captain Cook’s

the “Spirit of Aloha” dinner show

Tambu Lounge.

Stitch at Ohana

Transportation is by monorail, watercraft and motor coach.

Relaxing in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Legend has it that John Lennon signed the paperwork that officially split up the Beatles at the Polynesian Resort in 1974.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge opened on May 28th, 1984 Wilderness Lodge is reminiscent of Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone Park. This is a deluxe resort but is usually slightly cheaper than the other Magic Kingdom resorts.

In total there are 727 guest rooms at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge plus Disney Vacation Club Properties. Located on the 6th floor are the resort’s Club Level Rooms . Club level guests have access to the club lounge, also known as the Old Faithful Club. To learn more about Disney Club/Concierge Clubs read our review of the Kilimanjaro Club at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Fireplace

An 82-foot-tall stone fireplace is the centre piece of the impressive 6 storey lobby. A bubbling hot spring in the lobby expands outside the building into a roaring waterfall flowing into the swimming area.

A geothermal “geyser” erupts hourly at the edge of Bay Lake. Wilderness lodge certainly has some of the most impressive theming across any Disney World Resort.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Dining options include Artist Point, Whispering Canyon Café and Roaring Fork Snacks and Arcade. If you visit Whispering Canyon Café make sure you ask for the tomato sauce!

There is easy access to theme parks via watercraft and motor coach.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Wilderness Lodge Disney Vacation Club

There are 2 Disney Vacation Club properties at Wilderness Lodge. The properties are Boulder Ridge Villas & Copper Creek Villas. Copper Creek Villas is the newest property and opened in 2017.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

There are 799 campsites & 409 Wilderness Cabins all set in a relaxed 700-acre wilderness setting. All campsites have close access to air-conditioned comfort stations with private showers, coin laundry facility, vending machines and telephones. This is the only camping accommodation at Walt Disney World.

This is a massive resort and access to a car in our opinion is essential. Internal buses do run and many guests use golf carts to explore the resort.

Motor coach and boat transportation links the campground with all Walt Disney World Resort areas.

Disney World Resorts in Epcot Area

Disney World Resorts in the Epcot area give you good access to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Resorts are in a range of budgets.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

This value-priced resort features lodge buildings and furnishings inspired by the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s pop culture. There are a massive 2880 rooms at the resort which initially opened in 2003.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Recreation includes three pools, a kiddie pool, the traditional Disney souvenir shop and the Pop Jet Playground.

Shopping at Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Everything Pop food court area provides on site counter service meals.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

This Caribbean themed moderate resort originally opened in 1988. It is currently undergoing major renovations & several villages within the resort will not be available. Old Port Royale Food Court, Shutters at Old Port Royale, Cabana Pool Bar and Calypso Trading Post will be closed starting May 2017 through to fall 2018.

The Barbados and Martinique sections of the resort have now been demolished and will be part of the new DVC Disney Riviera Resort.

In addition there are a selection of bars, clubs and shops along the boardwalk.

Disney’s BoardWalk

Disney’s BoardWalk Villas

There are 280-units which form part of Disney Vacation Club. Like all DVC properties the villas can be rented by non-DVC members when not in use by members. Accommodation is available in studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas which offer kitchens, living areas and a variety of amenities.

Disney World Resorts in Disney Springs Area

There are a fantastic choice of resorts in the Disney Springs area. These resorts come in a range of budgets but do take longer to reach the theme parks.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

This Disney Vacation Club resort features 924 villas & studios that recall the late 1800s heyday of America’s first vacation destination. This is the largest Disney Vacation Club property and opened in several phases starting in 2004. There is now a massive 1260 rooms on property.

Bus transportation is provided to all four Walt Disney World theme parks.

The resort is located across the lake from Disney Springs and guest can get a water taxi.

Disney’s Saratoga SpringsThere are also 60 three-bedroom Treehouse Villas which opened in 2009.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-French Quarter

Port Orleans French Quarter

This moderately priced resorts is located in 325 acres of woodland. There are 1008 French Quarter-style rooms. The resort is next to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-Riverside & guest can share facilities.

Port Orleans French Quarter

Located on a 325-acre woodland site between Epcot and Disney Springs. Sassagoula Floatworks food court and pizza delivery. Themed pool, boat rentals, lounges, game room and retail shops. There is no table service restaurant at the resort.

Pool French Quarter

There is a Riverboat to Disney Springs & a motor coach to all theme parks.

The resort originally opened February 2, 1992 as Disney’s Dixie Landings Resort. It was renamed in 2001. It now forms part of a larger resort combined with Disney’s’ Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Recreation includes Ol’ Man Island a 3 ½-acre old-fashioned swimming hole with slides. In addition there are playgrounds, quiet pools, boat rentals, game room, The River Roost Lounge Bar and gift shop.

Playing at the River Roost Lounge on Wednesday to Saturday from 8:30pm is Bob Jackson. Bob performs a very popular piano sing-along comedy show and has developed a cult following.

There is a health club, tennis courts, several swimming pools, sauna and bar among recreation activities on site.

The resort is linked by motor coach to all other Walt Disney World parks. There is a water-taxi to Disney Springs.

Disney World Resorts in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Area

Disney World Resorts in the Animal Kingdom Area do take longer to get to all the theme parks except Animal Kingdom. Although there is a fantastic choice of resorts if you intend to spend the majority of your time in Magic Kingdom travelling will take longer.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

This Deluxe resort with 972-rooms opened in 2001. The resort has an African village design featuring hand-carved furnishings, African art and a giant fireplace in a soaring lobby.

Savannah Animal Kingdom Lodge

The resort is known as Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House whilst the nearby 100% Disney Vacation Club property is known as Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village.

Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

Jambo House features 24-hour views to its own 46-acre savanna of free-roaming mammals and tropical birds. The savanna is a highlight for many guests of their vacation.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

There are two full-service restaurants – Boma-Flavors of Africa and Jiko-The Cooking Place plus a quick-service eatery.

The Kilimanjaro Club is a concierge club level serving members with drinks and snacks. Read our review here.

Animal Kingdom Lodge often is cheaper than other Deluxe Walt Disney World Resorts. Many guests are put off by the distance to other theme parks but it is an outstanding resort with some of the best restraints in Walt Disney World.

The Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Kidani Village features Sanaa restaurant a modernlifeisgood.com favourite which features “the art of African cooking with Indian flavors”.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Features 1,917 moderate-price guest rooms inspired by the American Southwest and regions of Mexico. The resort encircles a 15-acre lagoon and opened in 1997. The resort is currently undergoing major renovations including the addition of a 15 story tower.

Dining includes the Maya Grill full-service restaurant and the Pepper Market dining court.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Art of Animation Resort

The newest resort hotel at Walt Disney World. 1,120 family suites and 864 standard guest rooms make up this family friendly value resort. The resort opened in 2012 and is the 5th resort in the value category.

Resort shop at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

The big blue world of Nemo and friends, the Pride Lands of Africa, under the sea in Ariel’s grotto, a super-charged adventure through Radiator Springs provide the themes in four distinctly designed wings.

Finding Nemo at Art of Animation

Family suites include two bathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleeping areas that can sleep up to six.

Disney’s Art of Animation

Dining options in the main Animation Hall include a poolside snack bar, pizza delivery and Landscape of Flavors food court featuring many made to order offerings.

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

Visiting All Star Sports

Features 1,920 value-priced rooms in buildings festooned with larger-than-life sports icons representing surfing, basketball, tennis, baseball and football. The resort opened in 1994.

All Star Sports Resort

There is a food court, pizza delivery, swimming pools and retail store on site.

Walt Disney World transportation system is included to get you to the parks.

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

1,920-room resort which opened in 1999. This value resort has the same facilities and amenities as Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort.

Facilities and amenities are the same as Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort.

Walt Disney World Resorts The Future

Nothing ever keeps still at Walt Disney World and currently both Caribbean Beach Resort and Coronado Springs Resort are undergoing major renovations. In addition many resorts will have pool closures and room refurbishment throughout the year.

There are 3 major construction project currently happening:

Disney Skyliner is an upcoming gondola lift system that will connect Pop Century Resort, Art of Animation Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort and the new Riviera Resort to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Expect some construction in all these resorts.

Disney Riviera Resort is a new resort being constructed. It is expected to open in 2019. It will be the 15th Disney Vacation Club Property.

A Star Wars Hotel was announced at D23. No opening date has been announced yet for this future resort.

Chef Mickey’s Contemporary Resort Disney World Resorts

Learn More

We hope this article has given you a taster of the fantastic Disney World Resorts. All the resorts featured on this page are owned by Walt Disney World.

There are a selection of other resorts at Walt Disney World which are owned by private operators. We will write about these at a future date.

We will develop this article further in coming months with further details on each resort.

Let us know in the comments section which are your favourite Walt Disney World Resorts.

If you want to learn more about Walt Disney World visit our developing Beginners Guide.